ATWA

ATWA (an acronym for Air, Trees, Water, Animals and All The Way Alive) stands for the uncompromising ecological mandate propounded by the infamous American convict Charles Manson. ATWA names the interrelated life support systems of the Earth. Charles Manson and his associates, most notably Lynette Fromme and Sandra Good, use the term to name the forces of life which holds the ecological balance of the Earth.

Origins

Manson was paroled in 1967 and found a welcoming environment in the burgeoning counterculture. Together with a small retinue of disaffected young people, he took flight from the madness of the cities and established a communal colony at Spahn Ranch in the Santa Susana mountains outside of Los Angeles, California. The group​ began​ to make survivalis​t foray​s into Death​ Valle​y in order​ to scout​ out more remot​e areas​ of the deser​t,​ and in Septe​mber 1969 some membe​rs attempted to thwar​t nearb​y road devel​opmen​ts by delib​erate​ly setti​ng an expen​sive piece​ of earth​-​movin​g equip​ment on fire. This early act of monkey wrenching occurred a number of years before the concept would be popularized by Edward Abbey, Dave Foreman, and other radical environmentalists. In December 1969, Manson was arrested for arson of a Michigan Loader earth-mover in Death Valley and has remained in custody to this day due to a conviction of guilty of first-degree murder.

Beliefs

ATWA’s proponents emphasize the unity of life on Earth, which is often spoken of in religious terms. Adherents of ATWA view nature as sacred. Manson has stated that “Ecology is God.” A study of contemporary testimonies reveals that Manson discouraged meat eating while advocating a primal understanding of the natur​al world which​ included totemistic identifica​tion with various animals.

Lynette Fromme & Sandra Good

In the years following Manson's conviction and imprisonment with a life sentence, his close associates Lynette Fromme and Sandra Good became increasingly active in their efforts to raise awareness of the present system's failure to properly steward the Earth.

In 1975, Lynette Fromme was found guilty of the attempted assassination of then president Gerald Ford (even though there was no bullet in the chamber of the gun). While questioned in custody she was asked why she had pointed the gun; she stated for the redwoods. In August 2009, Fromme was released from federal prison after serving 34 years.

Sandra Good was imprisoned for 10 years for conspiracy to send threatening letters to corporate executives unless their corporations ceased polluting the environment. After her release in 1985, Good led a campaign against International Paper Co. in defense of Lake Champlain.

References

• Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature edited by Bron R. Taylor (Continuum, 2005, ISBN 9781843711384)
• Squeaky - The Life and Times of Lynette Alice Fromme by Jess Bravin (St. Martins Press, 1997, ISBN 0312156634)
• Charles Manson - Love Letters to a Secret Disciple by Sy Wyzinski (Moonmad Press, 1976, ISBN 0917918010)
• The Manson File by Nikolas Schreck (Amok Press, 1988, ISBN 094169304X)
• Charles Manson Superstar documentary directed by Nikolas Schreck (Music Video Distribu, DVD Release Date: 2002)
• Desert Shadows: A True Story of the Charles Manson Family in Death Valley by Bob Murphy (Sagebrush Press, 1999, ISBN 0930704290)

External links

• One World Order - Central Source for ATWA and Charles Manson
• Manson Direct - An official Charles Manson and ATWA site
• Charles Manson | A.T.W.A.R. - A Support Site for Charles Manson Truths, Words, Works, and Struggle against over forty years of Cowardice, Stupidity, and Lies